Beyond Perception

Abstract

My thesis consists of several major pieces about a profound experience of encountering an ash tree. The tree is in the Kanakadea Park, in front of Almond Lake, in Hornell. These visiting experiences bring me strength, thinking about life, and these also inspire my creation. I cannot remember the view of the first time I stood beside this tree and looked at the broken sunlight in front of the lake. However, I remember how my stressful heart felt a burst of relief. The relief becomes the beginning of this whole story. It was a moment of peace that brought me back there to be in a daze. After going there several times, I noticed this tree stood alone, just like me. There are no trees around it. Could it be lonely too? It seems well grown. How did it face the flow of time to grow into such a big tree? As if I heard the tree whisper, “Since your life is messed up, and you don’t know how to fix it. why don’t you seek help?”